Quick bite: Our walk dives right into the mix by taking you through the vibrant heart of Rio’s two most historically and architecturally significant neighborhoods.

Brazil and its cuisine are a wild and sometimes baffling stew of influences and cultures. Our walk dives right into that mix by taking you through the vibrant heart of Rio’s two most historically and architecturally significant neighborhoods: downtown’s Centro and Porto areas. These atmospheric districts are where the Portuguese began building Rio, where the slaves who were brought over to Brazil first landed, where samba was born and – most importantly – where this bustling city’s multicultural identity and food culture started taking shape.

The neighborhoods of Centro and Porto are where the Portuguese began building Rio, where samba was born and – most importantly – where this bustling city’s multicultural identity and food culture started taking shape.

As Rio undertakes an ambitious growth plan, these still-untouristed neighborhoods are now being rediscovered and revitalized. With Rio’s history and modern rise as a backdrop, our walk works its way through the traditional eateries and bars of this district, catching some little-known cultural treasures along the way. Starting with a Portuguese-style pastry and strong coffee at Rio’s oldest café, we then sample the culinary offerings of the city’s largest open-air market, which Jewish, Syrian and now Chinese merchants have all called home. Moving through the historic port area, we stop at iconic botequims – lively, old-fashioned watering holes where locals take their lunch – for classic Rio bar food and a taste of cachaça, the sugar cane spirit that is Brazil’s national drink.

After we take in the view from the area’s hills, there will be stops for Amazonian açaí and other interesting bites while we soak up the atmosphere of an area whose own story tells the larger story of Rio itself.

Note: This walk does include some hills and stairs. Though punctuated by plenty of stops, it can be strenuous at times.

Fee includes everything consumed on the walk. Some special features:

Visits the old city

Children welcome

Pork is served but can be substituted

Samples alcohol

Many, but not all, stops can be altered for vegetarians

Includes some hills and stairs

What is included in the fee?

In addition to your Culinary Backstreets guide, all food consumed on the walk- almost a dozen different edible specialties- are included in the price. A limited selection of alcohol is served on the walks and is included in the price.

Why is the Culinary Backstreet tour more expensive than some other walking tours?

Our approach is different than most tour companies. Each of our culinary walks is the outcome of considerable research. We work with academics in the field and our own team of experienced professionals – both guides and local journalists. Our ongoing publishing of articles, from restaurant reviews to features about the intersection of food and culture, constantly feeds new material into the culinary walks, so they evolve and constantly improve. Though costly, we believe that this is how to create the quality experiences we strive for.

We practice honest tourism and would never accept a free lunch or any sort of commission. On the contrary, we are proud to know that the money spent during the culinary walk goes to support businesses that we believe in, helping to preserve the social and cultural fabric of the cities we love so dearly.

How does the payment process work?

Once you have selected an available walk route and date, you will be directed to pay the fee or deposit for the walk. If you are registering for a walk that requires approval, your card will not be charged until the walk is approved.

If you have just paid a deposit, but would rather pay the full amount in advance, please click on ‘view booking’ on your confirmation email and continue to the ‘pay balance’ button.

100% will be refunded if given one week notice prior to walk and 50% will be refunded if given 72 hours notice or more.

Are your walks public or private? How many people are on them?

Our walks are 2-7 people and are open to the public. If you would like to do a private walk, we may be able to arrange one for an additional fee. Please contact us at [email protected] for more information.

Can I get a discount if I join more than one walk?

Yes, we offer a 10% discount to those who join more than one walk. Please email us at [email protected] if you’d like to join multiple walks.

Are your walks suitable for people with food allergies?

This can vary based on a number of factors, including the food item in question. Please email us at [email protected] to discuss your situation before booking.

Are your walks suitable for vegetarians, pescetarians, and vegans?

We do not recommend this activity for vegans, but vegetarians and pescetarians will only have to pass on a few offerings.

Are your walks suitable for a gluten-free diet?

We do not recommend the walks to folks with a gluten-free diet, as it is too restricting.

How physically demanding are the walks?

This walk does include some hills and stairs. Though punctuated by plenty of stops, it can be strenuous at times.

Can children join the walks?

Of course! We offer a 50% discount to children ages 12 and under, and we do not charge for children under the ages 6 and under.

Can you pick me up from my hotel? How will I return, once the tour is over?

Our tour prices don’t include transportation. If you book a tour, you’re responsible for arriving to the pre-arranged meeting spot on your own.

Once the tour is over, we will help you get an authorized, safe taxi to your hotel, or provide directions on public transportation, if you’re interested in that.

How much food will I get to try?

This is really up to you. We generally make between 9 and 12 eating stops on our walk and try to include some breaks from eating along the way. The price includes as much food as you’re open to trying. We offer a suggested portion size at each stop and you can take our recommendation if you’d like. Our walks often involve street food and sharing food.

Is Rio de Janeiro safe these days?

Although it is safe to be in Rio de Janeiro, it is always a good idea to keep cameras and smartphones in your bag and your bag closed while walking – the stopping points on the walk will be a great time for taking pictures.

Am I going to get sick from eating Brazilian street food?

We take food safety very seriously and only frequent places that we know to have excellent professionalism in handling food (even if they are humble places). All food stops on each of our tours have been personally tested – often multiple times – by each of our guides.

Spoiled for Choice in Copacabana

By Juarez Becoza

April 1, 2018

Spoiled for Choice in Copacabana

The huge counter at Adega Pérola in Rio de Janeiro contains a multitude of culinary surprises. The botequim offers more than 50 types of petiscos […]

Põe na Quentinha

By Juarez Becoza

February 7, 2018

Põe na Quentinha

When it first began five years ago, Põe na Quentinha was an informal get-together for people who were equally passionate about food, beer and samba; […]

Fresh Catch in Copacabana

By Juarez Becoza

November 10, 2017

Fresh Catch in Copacabana

Adega Pérola, a bar that sticks close to its Iberian roots, offers more than 50 types of tapas from both land and sea. One of the […]

Lá na Rosi

By Juarez Becoza

October 3, 2017

Lá na Rosi

The sun is already down when the food kiosks at the entrance to the Z10 fishing colony open their doors. It’s evening, and we are […]

Biscoito Globo

By Danielle Renwick

May 15, 2017

Biscoito Globo

Asking cariocas if they remember their first Biscoito Globo, the ubiquitous, crunchy beach snack, is like asking anyone who teethed in the United States if […]

Bar Ocidental

By Danielle Renwick

December 1, 2016

Bar Ocidental

Downtown Rio, full of historical monuments, colonial architecture and daytime bustle, grows emptier during the evenings. But for the last half century, one cobblestone street […]

Renascença Clube

By Taylor Barnes

August 17, 2016

Renascença Clube

In the middle of the last century, upwardly mobile Afro-Brazilians were vexed by the city’s segregated social scene. September 25, 2013 Renascença Clube (0) In […]

Quiosque do Português

By Taylor Barnes

August 8, 2016

Quiosque do Português

It might have become one of the more fashionable places in Rio for a caipirinha, yet the name of this father-son joint – “Portuguese Kiosk” […]

Olympian Appetites

By Taylor Barnes

August 1, 2016

Olympian Appetites

Athletes, spectators and everyone else gathered in Rio for the Summer Olympics will have no shortage of good eating options – and not just in […]

Amazonian Food in Santa Teresa

By Culinary Backstreets

June 7, 2016

Amazonian Food in Santa Teresa

Delicious Amazonian food is just one element of our truly adventurous walk in the artsy, hillside Rio de Janeiro neighborhood of Santa Teresa. June 8, […]

Quetzal

By Taylor Barnes

June 7, 2016

Quetzal

As an electrician in the Galeão international airport, Emerson Gama responded to emergencies like exploding transformers. But in his spare time, he was becoming a […]

Pastel da Carmen

By Taylor Barnes

May 10, 2016

Pastel da Carmen

Carmen and Eduardo’s story could be an allegory for the rise and uh-oh moment of Brazil’s new middle class – except their tale is a […]

Casa Cavé

By Catherine Osborn

May 4, 2016

Casa Cavé

The popular saying that Rio is known more for its bar culture than for its café culture has serious counter-evidence in the old city. June […]

Liquid Carnival

By Taylor Barnes

February 8, 2016

Liquid Carnival

In the anything-goes lead-up to Lent, Carnival in Rio is as much about public inebriation and bawdy public displays of affection as it is about […]

Bacalhau on the Streets of Rio

By Catherine Osborn

February 6, 2016

Bacalhau on the Streets of Rio

An employee of the popular bulk goods seller Casas Pedro slices up a bacalhau, a codfish beloved by Brazilians and a keen Portuguese culinary influence. […]

Discovering the Culinary Soul of Old Rio

By Paxton Winters

January 26, 2016

Discovering the Culinary Soul of Old Rio

Quick bite: Our walk dives right into the mix by taking you through the vibrant heart of Rio’s two most historically and architecturally significant neighborhoods. June […]

Tapioca–not the pudding, a yucca-based Rio street snack

Tapioca–not the pudding, a yucca-based Rio street snack

Tapioca—a chewy pancake and tasty street snack staple in Rio made from yucca root, which is widely used in Brazil. One of the many humble, […]

Bar do Alto

By Taylor Barnes

January 13, 2016

Bar do Alto

You get to Bar do Alto by taking a zippy mototaxi up the snaking streets of the Babilônia favela and then walking 10 minutes up […]

Erisvaldo’s Roscas

By Taylor Barnes

November 27, 2015

Erisvaldo’s Roscas

Erisvaldo Correia dos Santos dreamed of being a star. He saw himself as a humorist, a singer maybe, and most certainly an artist. But the […]

Junta Local

By Taylor Barnes

October 27, 2015

Junta Local

Rio de Janeiro didn’t need to be told to host colorful outdoor fresh food markets. The feira is a carioca tradition, with wooden booths going […]

Samba to Go

By Catherine Osborn

January 16, 2015

Samba to Go

Composer Pecê Ribeiro is famous for writing songs that spread the glory of Portela, one of Rio’s oldest and most beloved samba schools in the […]

Best Bites of 2014

By Taylor Barnes and Juarez Becoza

December 18, 2014

Best Bites of 2014

Editor’s note: The year is coming to an end, which means it’s time for us to look back on all the great eating and drinking […]

Bar do Seu Candinho

By Juarez Becoza

December 8, 2014

Bar do Seu Candinho

Tucked away at the end of a hidden alleyway in a city full of secret places is an old bar, a timeworn, bare-bones hole-in-the-wall that […]

First Stop

By Winnie Yang

September 6, 2014

First Stop

Editor’s note: In the latest installment of our recurring feature, First Stop, Tracy Chang tells us what and where she ate when she was in […]

Rio’s German Bars

By Juarez Becoza

July 8, 2014

Rio’s German Bars

In just a few hours, Germany will play Brazil in a World Cup semi-final match, but the outcome doesn’t matter. Win or lose, Germany has […]

The Botequim

By Juarez Becoza

May 28, 2014

The Botequim

After Portugal, Spain is second in exerting the most influence over the traditional bars and botequins of Rio. Even though the number of immigrants from […]

The Botequim

By Juarez Becoza

May 14, 2014

The Botequim

Brazil, as everybody knows, was colonized by the Portuguese. But even with the end of colonial Brazil, the Portuguese continued to come: at the beginning […]

Back to the Source

By Taylor Barnes

April 1, 2014

Back to the Source

Perhaps coffee is underappreciated in Rio because it’s so plentiful. Brazil is the world’s largest producer of coffee, but both the selection and the presentation […]

Espírito Santa

By Taylor Barnes

January 20, 2014

Espírito Santa

In a country the size of Brazil, you’ll have an easier time finding a carioca who’s been to Disney World than to the Amazon region, […]

Casa Paladino Comestíveis

By Taylor Barnes

January 10, 2014

Casa Paladino Comestíveis

In a city filled with Technicolor snack bars, Casa Paladino Comestíveis instead looks more like the kind of place where you’d find seedy men smoking […]

Ask CB

By Taylor Barnes

December 9, 2013

Ask CB

Dear Culinary Backstreets, My husband and I are headed to Rio for vacation and neither of us eats meat or fish. Brazil sounds like a […]

Erisvaldo’s Roscas

By Taylor Barnes

November 6, 2013

Erisvaldo’s Roscas

Erisvaldo Correia dos Santos dreamed of being a star. He saw himself as a humorist, a singer maybe, and most certainly an artist. But the […]

Bar Urca

By Taylor Barnes

October 9, 2013

Bar Urca

In a city with no shortage of postcard views, Bar Urca’s may get the title for most picturesque. The eponymous residential neighborhood where the bar […]

Confeitaria Colombo

By Taylor Barnes

October 4, 2013

Confeitaria Colombo

For a city whose natural beauty is what often sweeps visitors off their feet, Rio’s historical gems often look a little like urban ugly ducklings […]

Renascença Clube

By Taylor Barnes

September 25, 2013

Renascença Clube

In the middle of the last century, upwardly mobile Afro-Brazilians were vexed by the city’s segregated social scene. Even as they became lawyers and doctors […]

Ask CB: Getting Around Rio’s High Prices?

By Taylor Barnes

August 1, 2013

Ask CB: Getting Around Rio’s High Prices?

Dear Culinary Backstreets, I hear that prices in Rio are Olympic-sized. How can I eat the best the city has to offer, without spending an […]

Quiosque do Português

By Taylor Barnes

July 10, 2013

Quiosque do Português

It might have become one of the more fashionable places in Rio for a caipirinha, yet the name of this father-son joint – “Portuguese Kiosk” […]

Raising Cane: Cachaça’s New Day

By Taylor Barnes

May 31, 2013

Raising Cane: Cachaça’s New Day

To call someone a cachaceiro in Brazil is to deal a pretty low Portuguese blow. The word translates roughly to “drunkard” and evokes the image […]

I am on a tour curated by Culinary Backstreets, a group of foodies and journalists who take travelers on food walks in six cities around the world….Our goal is to eat our way through the day. But Rio’s history is as rich as its food, and our tour is part history lesson, part gastronomic adventure. Read more

They offer walking and food tasting tours that veer away from the typically trodden tourist paths into the backstreets of areas where everyday life plays out naturally and away from the eyes of mass tour groups. The groups are kept small. We were a group of 5 and it was the perfect size to move discreetly through the tiny shops, botequims (pubs), and the areas of Rio de Janeiro that are now being rediscovered through revitalization. Read more

This is where Culinary Backstreets, a local food tour, steps up to the plate. Dishing up a different way for tourists and locals to experience a blend of cultures that are “ deliciously and uniquely Brazilian,” palates will be more than pleased after this five-hour long eye – and mouth – opening experience. – Read more

…hit the creative neighborhoods of Santa Teresa, Glória, Centro, and Porto on a food tour with Culinary Backstreets. You’ll sample fish and honey from local vendors and eat sweets with eighth-generation Portuguese pastry chefs. Read more

Connect with US

Don’t miss out

Culinary Backstreets has updated its cookie policy. We use cookies to optimize site function, provide social media features and analyse our traffic. Some third-party social media sites may track your use of the CB website if you visit a page which contains their embedded content. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies served on the CB website. You can, however, opt out of being served cookies by adjusting your settings. Click to read our full privacy policy and user agreement. Privacy Policy